C / C++ / MFC Discussion Boards

George_George10-Jul-08 15:50

10-Jul-08 15:50

Yes, I have checked that file. Any comments to?

http://www.codeproject.com/script/Forums/View.aspx?fid=1647&msg=2633113[^]

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Sarath C9-Jul-08 1:08

Sarath C

9-Jul-08 1:08

You can use Listing Files option (/FA)[^] for the purpose

-Sarath.
"Great hopes make everything great possible" - Benjamin Franklin

My blog - Sharing My Thoughts, An Article - Understanding Statepattern

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 15:47

George_George

10-Jul-08 15:47

Thanks Sarath,

Is the option the same as C/C++ --> Assembly Output --> Assembly With Source Code option?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt9-Jul-08 13:41

Stephen Hewitt

9-Jul-08 13:41

George_George wrote:
Since in release mode, we can not set a breakpoint in Visual Studio 2008, so I can not stop at somewhere and see the Diassembly code.

Set the compiler and linker options to generate debug info for the release build. There is nothing to stop you doing this, in fact it's the first thing I do when setting up a new project.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 15:49

George_George

10-Jul-08 15:49

Thanks Steve,

I am interested to learn how to "generate debug info for the release build". How to do this in Visual Studio?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 16:15

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 16:15

What IDE do you use?

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 16:33

George_George

10-Jul-08 16:33

Visual Studio 2008, any ideas Steve?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 16:41

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 16:41

I’ve only got MSVC6 here but I’ll give you instructions for that in the hope that you can adapt them to your version.

Select "Project"->"Settings...."
Select the "Release" build.
Select the "C/C++" tab.
Select "Program Database" in the "Debug info" combo (not "Program Database for Edit and Contine").
Select the "Link" tab.
Select "Debug" in the "Category" combo.
In the "Debug Info" group" tick "Debug info" and press the "Microsoft format" radio button.
Make sure "Separate types" in NOT pressed as it sucks.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 17:04

George_George

10-Jul-08 17:04

Thanks Steve!

Two more comments,

1.

When I select to build release mode, and then pressing F5, do I debug release mode or debug more?

2.

What on earth is the difference in debug binary code and release binary code, and the so called debug info as you mentioned above? I think symbols are stored separately in PDB file, the differences should not be symbols?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 18:10

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 18:10

It's best to debug in the debug build as the compiler doesn't perform optimizations which can sometimes confuse debuggers and also the libraries perform extra checks which can help catch bugs. Debug info can be built for both release builds.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 19:04

George_George

10-Jul-08 19:04

Thanks Steve,

What are the so-called debug info? I think symbols are already in the PDB file, what else do you mean debug info?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 19:26

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 19:26

The debug info is generally stored in PDB files.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 20:40

George_George

10-Jul-08 20:40

Thanks Steve,

If debug information is in PDB file, then what are the additional information in debug binary compared with release binary?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 21:07

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 21:07

The code will be different for a number of reasons including:

Optimisations are disabled.
You’ll possible depend on debug versions of certain DLLs.
Libraries and possibly your own code will use #ifdefs to add extra runtime checks to debug builds.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 21:21

George_George

10-Jul-08 21:21

Thanks Steve,

1.

"debug versions of certain DLLs" -- you mean DLLS ends with D?

2.

"extra runtime checks" -- I remember there is some checks like stack overflow checking, do you mean mean something like this? If yes, my question, why we do not add such useful checking to release code (all code needs to be have enough sanity checking to make it reliable)?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 21:42

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 21:42

George_George wrote:
"debug versions of certain DLLs" -- you mean DLLS ends with D?

The naming convention used is up the the DLLs author, but appending a "D" is common.

George_George wrote:
"extra runtime checks" -- I remember there is some checks like stack overflow checking, do you mean mean something like this? If yes, my question, why we do not add such useful checking to release code (all code needs to be have enough sanity checking to make it reliable)?

Search through MFC's source code for #ifdef _DEBUG and see for yourself.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 21:57

George_George

10-Jul-08 21:57

Thanks Steve,

But do you think the release code has any risk or issues if we remove the runtime checking code?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 21:59

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 21:59

The check are only meant for debugging purposes. Hopefully by the time you release the product you've fixed the bugs.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 22:03

George_George

10-Jul-08 22:03

Thanks Steve,

I got the point.

1. In beginning phase, we use debug version binary which contains more information to debug when there is issues like stack overrun. Such debug information is injected only in debug binary by compiler;

2. When we fixed all bugs in debug version, then we should use release version for deployment.

Are them your points?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 22:05

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 22:05

That's pretty much it.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 22:10

George_George

10-Jul-08 22:10

Cool, Steve. I also tested the PDB for release and debug are different. Smile | :)

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 22:16

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 22:16

Naturally. Given that the code is different and that a PDB is like a map of the contents of the application this is to be expected.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 22:22

George_George

10-Jul-08 22:22

Thanks Steve,

It is my mistake to think we can not debug and set breakpoint for release binary. For the source code which is optimized out, we can see it in Visual Studio, set breakpoint, but never stops on them in release mode, but stops on debug mode. Correct?

regards,
George

Re: assembly code for release code?

Stephen Hewitt10-Jul-08 22:32

Stephen Hewitt

10-Jul-08 22:32

In general you can set breakpoints in release builds just fine. If code is optimised out then it's never called so a breakpoint in such code will not be hit in release of debug builds.

Steve

Re: assembly code for release code?

George_George10-Jul-08 22:58

George_George

10-Jul-08 22:58

Thanks Steve!

Question answered.

regards,
George

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